Acceptable Calculators
To protect the validity and fairness of the SAT and SAT Subject Tests, the College Board has instituted some important changes to registration and test-day requirements for 2012-13. This page and other online content will be fully updated to reflect our new policies later this summer. In the meantime, please go here for complete coverage of our new policies.
What is and isn't allowed for the SAT® on test day
Every mathematics question on the SAT can be solved without a calculator. However, using a calculator may be helpful for some questions. Scientific or graphing calculators are recommended.
Calculator primer
- Students should bring a calculator with which they are familiar and comfortable. Their degree of familiarity with the operation of a calculator may affect how well they do on the test.
- Students should bring extra batteries and, if possible, a backup.
calculator—test center staff do not have batteries or extra calculators. - Students are not required to clear the memory on their calculators before testing.
- Students are not permitted to share their calculators. Students who use their calculators to share or exchange information during the test are dismissed and their scores are canceled.
- Students using a calculator with a large (characters one inch or more high) or raised display that might be visible to other test-takers are seated at the discretion of the test supervisor.
The following are not allowed:
- Calculators with QWERTY (typewriter-like) keypads
- Calculators that contain electronic dictionaries
- Calculators with paper tape or printers
- Calculators that "talk" or make noise
- Calculators that require an electrical outlet
- Cell-phone calculators
- Pocket organizers or personal digital assistants
- Handheld minicomputers, PowerBooks, or laptop computers
- Electronic writing pads or pen-input and stylus-driven devices (the Sharp 9600-EL can be used without the stylus)